Plumb bob device



Jan. 22, 1952 J. F. oRLANDo PLUME B0B DEVICE Filed Feb. A27, 1948 4U 3 ,7 @a /w/ Patented Jan. 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLUMB BOB DEVICE Joseph Francis Orlando, Washington, D. C. ApplicationFebruary Z7, 1948, Serial No. v11,363

3 claims. 1

The present invention relates to a plumb bob device including a novel bob and means for suspending the same when plumbing from one point to another.

An object of the invention is to facilitate and improve the accuracy of the plumbing operation by providing an improved plumb bob incorporating illuminating means to indicate the point of plumbing with a spot of light.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved plumb bob incorporating illuminating means effective to illuminate an area adjacent tliepoint of plumbing and to indicate the precise plumb point by a spot of light centered in a non-illuminated circle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plumb bob and holder therefor including a convenient means for storing and paying out the plumb line and positioning the upper end thereof at the precise plumbing point.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plumb bob and line holder including a polygonal frame between the sides of which a plumb line reel is journalled and in which the sides converge to an apex having an aperture for the passage of the plumb line and a nose for correctly positioning the same at a plumbing point, the frame carrying a handle for holding the same in position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description of the invention and reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a supporting frame and plumb bob embodying the invention and illustrating the manner of plumbing a point on a vertical surface,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the supporting frame,

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of the nose of the frame,

Fig. 4 is an axial section through the plumb bob, and

Fig. 5 is a partial axial section through a modified form of illuminating tip for the plumb bob.

Referring more particularly to the details of the drawings, I indicates a frame in the form of an irregular pentagon made of suitable strap metal, such as brass, and including a base portion 2, to which a handle 3 is attached by a stud bolt 4. From the base 2 parallel sides 5 extend perpendicular thereto and a reel 6 is journalled between the sides 5. Beyond the reel 8 the sides converge inwardly as indicated at 'I to a nose or point 8.

The reel shaft is provided with a crank handle 3 iii for winding the reel and a spring pressed bearing detent I0 is mounted in one of the walls 5 with the detent engaging a row of depressions II in the end face of the reel to retain it against unwinding under the weight of the bob suspended from the line wound on the reel as will appear hereafter.

The plumb line I2 has one end fastened to the reel and is wound thereon and the other end extends from the reel tothe nose or point 8 from which the plumb bob attached thereto is suspended when the device is in use.

The nose 8 of the frame I, as will be seen more clearly by reference to Figs. 1 and 3, is provided with a vertical slot I3 in the upper edge at the tip thereof and with diagonal slots I4 extending inwardly toward the tip from both the upper and lower edges spaced a short distance from the tip. The purpose of the side notches is to engage the plumb line to positively prevent the same from unwinding when this is desirable, such as when plumbing a specified distance from a plurality of points. The line is secured with the requisite length depending from the nose by winding it around the nose seated in the slots III and passing it from the upper slot on one side over the center slot or notch I3 from which it will depend straight and true from the point of the nose. The forward surface of the nose is cut back or slanted inwardly from the upper edge thereof as indicated at I5 so that with the upper edge of the tip bearing against a plumb point the line depending from the notch I3 will hang in true vertical alinement with the point. A hole I6 is also provided in the nose just below the notch I3 through which the line maybe threaded if desired.

The novel plumb bob I 'I according to the invention is formed of brass or other suitable material and comprises a tapered body portion lil formed with an axial bore I9 of a diameter to receive a small dry cell battery or batteries 20 which are inserted from the upper or larger end thereof. The upper end of the body is provided with a screw plug closure 2|, also preferably of brass, and the latter is formed with an axial threaded bore 22 through which is threaded a hollow screw 23 provided with a knurled head 24. The plumb line I2 is threaded through the bore of the screw 23 and is knotted at the end, the knot seating in an enlarged socket at the inner end of the bore. The screw 23 serves the dual purpose of anchoring the plumb line and as a switch for the battery circuit. In order to prevent accidental completion of the circuit by contact of the end of the battery with the plug 2|, an insulating disc 25 having a central aperture to pass the end of the screw 23 and a coil spring 26 may be inserted between the plug 2l and the end of the battery 20.

The bore I9 in the plumb body I3 terminates adjacent the smaller end of the body in a reduced threaded socket 21 which receives a small electric lamp bulb 28 which, when screwed into the socket, makes contact with the center terminal of the battery 2i! as will be clearly seen in Fig. 4.

The body I8 is truncated at its smaller end andforined with jafthreaded hstud 29 on which a removable 1tip 30 is threaded. The tip'30 lis sized and shaped externally to conform to the taper of the body I8 and is hollowed out to accommodate the light bulb 28 and formed with an axial bore, Y

3! opening at the tip end thereof so that light from the lamp bulb 28 will pass through` the bore 3| and illuminate a spot axially .in vadvance thereof.

It will be apparent from the above description that by turning the knurled head 2t, the screw 23' will reed inwardly and outwardly and the inner end thereof will be caused to, make or break contact with the end of thebattery to light or extinguish thelamp bulb 28, the circuit being completed through the metal plumb body is. -It will of course be understood that if it is desired to make the plumbv body oi non-.conf ducting material, Va suitable Yconductor, will be provided ybetween the `switch screw 23 and the lamp socket.

It is citen desirable to provide iihmination or the area around a plumbing point, particulariy when working in-fdark corners and effecting this, 4the niodiiied form of tip as shown in Fig. y5, is provided. The tip 32 which is hollow and threaded lat 33 to screw on the stud 2S is for-med .with an intermediate section Sil of transparent material. and terminates in a metal tip end 35 formed with an axial bore opening through the end thereof? The base 3l of the tip 'si preferably made 'of metal and the transparent portion 3@ which .preferably is of molded piastre is positioned and dimensioned so that when the tip'is applied tothe plumb body and the 28 is illuminated, the light rays will be projected both iaterally and forwardly through the saine. The met-'al tip end-35 is of course opaque so that the result when using this tip and 'energizing the lamp is an area of general illumination around the plumb bob with a spot or" bright vlight in the middle of the shadow cast by the tip/end. Y

In using the invention, for instance in plumb-l ing from fan elevated surface to a lower point,

the 'screw 23 lis turned down to llight the lamp 28,

the` tip ofthe nose 8 is placed on thepoint to be pl 'ribed from and sucient line is unreeled to suspend the bob with (the point thereof within about half` an inch of the lower surface with the line passed over the notch I3 inthe nose or" the frame. The bright point of light projected onto the lower 4surface through vthe axial bore in the tip of the bob then indicates the desired point which maybe markedeasily without disturbing the bob. When this is accomplished, the reel may be operated to wind in the line and the screw 23 is of course backed off to break the lamp circuit when the bob is not in use. As indicated previously, the spring pressed detent Ill wil hold the reelfrom turning and paying out additional line under the weight of the bob, however, when a fixed length of line is desiredthe line may be passed through the notches I4 before threading over the notch I3 to provide a positive tie.

While preferred embodiments of the invention vcell lbatt ry. an end closure for the bore threaded on the upper end of the body, an axially disposed line anchoring screw switch threaded through said end closure and adapted to engage the ter'- niinal end of a battery disposed in said bore, said line anchoring screw switch being formed with an exposed knurled head and having an axial bore for the passage of the end of a plumb line therethrough and a socket in the inner end thereof for seating an anchoring knot on the end of the plumb line, said body having a lamp socket at the other end Orsaid bore, and a removable tip on the other end Yof the body chambered to accommodate a `lamp disposed in said socket and having an axial bore from said chamber opening through the tip end.

A plumb hob comprising a tapered body having-an axial bore for the reception of a dry cell battery, an end closure for the bore atthe upper end of the body, an axially disposed line anchoring screw switch threaded throughv endclosureV having an axial bore or the passage the end of a plumb line therethrough and an exposed :head for manual adjustment thereof to engage the inner end thereof with the terminal end of a battery disposed in said bore, body having a lamp socket at the other end of said bore, and a Vremovable tip on the other end of the body chambered to `'accoinmodate a lamp disposed in said socket and comprising a transparent portion for the passage of light rays from the lamp laterally therethrough and an opaque tip end lhaving an axial bore for the passage oi' an Y axial point-indicating light beam therethrough, whereby the body of said opaque tip end serves toeast a shadow around the point oi light` emitted through the axial bore therein the center of an area illuminated by iight fron' the lamp emitted through said transparent material.

3.. A plumb bob comprising a tapered having an axial boreY for the reception or Ya dry cell battery, an end `closure yfor the bore at the upper end of the body., an axially disposed line anchoring screw switch threaded through said end closure having an axial bore ,for the passage of the end of a plumb line therethrough and exposed head for manual adjustment-thereof to engage the inner end thereof with the terminal end of a battery disposed in said bore, said body having a lamp socket at the other end or" said hated by light from the lamp emitted through said transparent material.

JsEPn FRANCIS ORLANDO.

(References on following page) body i REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Fuller Nov. 1, 1892 Martn Feb. 4, 1913 Wallace Oct. 13, 1914 Perkins June 12, 1917 Griswold Dec. 9, 1939 Levene Aug. 30, 1932 Number f g, Number Name Date Voss Sept. 20, 1932 Porter Feb. 1S, 1935 Osterman Dec. 17, 1940 Zeno Jul-y 13, 1943 Hoagland Sept. 18, 1945 Kleinschmdt Oct. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany 1922 France 1922 

